TranslateSupraventricular Tachycardia
Outpatients | Cardiology
This condition is treated in the Cardiology clinic.
Emergency Referral Criteria
If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the Emergency Department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region. Clinical judgement should always be considered in addition to these criteria.
Criteria for Emergency include:
- Unresolved acute supraventricular tachycardia with any of the following concerning features:
- syncope
- severe dizziness
- ongoing chest pain
- increasing shortness of breath
- hypotension
- signs of cardiac failure
- ventricular rate greater than 120 bpm
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Statewide Referral Criteria (SRC)
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
? Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Urgent (Category 1)
- Supraventricular tachycardia without any of the listed Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
- Documented evidence of pre-excitation on ECG with history of palpitations (e.g. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome)
Routine (Category 3)
- No category 3 criteria
Information to be included in the referral
(Referral may be returned without this)
Essential supporting information
Pathology
- LFT
- UEC
- FBC
- TSH
Imaging
- Nil essential
Investigations/other
- Any relevant ECG (ideally showing SVT if possible)
Additional information
- Medication history
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Cardiology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
Other information which may be useful for triage:
For supraventricular tachycardia:
- Rate and pattern of pulse
- Constant or intermittent
- TIA's/stroke - past or present
- Associated symptoms - angina, SOB
- Current and past medications
NB: Ventricular Tachycardia is an emergency and needs immediate referral to ED via ambulance.
For more information please see HealthPathways Tasmania
Additional resources
RACGP Article - Initial Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias
